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    The Back Bay Fens

    4.1 (42 reviews)

    The Back Bay Fens Photos

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    Terry G.

    What an amazing space in the heart of urban Boston. My grandparents were amongst the original Back Bay residents who started what was in 1942, a WWII "Victory Garden" where locals grew fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, the Fens features lovely individual plots/gardens where locals can rent a space and grow whatever inspires them -flowers, plants, produce... Our favorite was the Herb & Medicinal Garden where all are welcomed to sit, relax and even indulge.

    The annual, Summer "Rose Garden Party" with all the roses in bloom and the best hats in Boston. PHOTO: Lynn Julian (Crisci)
    Lynn J.

    The most beautiful part of The Back Bay Fens is the Kelleher Rose Garden...OH, THE AROMA! Every rose bush and trellis features a plaque, stating it's name and personality. BEST DEAL: Attend the annual, Summer "Rose Garden Party" to catch all the roses in full bloom...and the best hats in Boston. I was gifted an "Honorable Mention" Hat Contest Winner (Lynn Julian) adorned with my own creation, which was made from a Schiaparelli hat base.

    Gee G.

    Very cute park, worth the visit if your up for a walk or would like to digest after a meal in back bay. Lovely Fujiko x fog installation when I went. Great timing as a New Yorker in Boston. Great park.

    Tarah H, Daniel S, and Jeffrey H taking a 2AM trip to The Fens after a night at Machine. Photo by Katie H.
    Jeffrey H.

    Hmmm...it seems the previous reviewers didn't know or didn't mention why this is a place to stay away from at night--it's for GAY SEX. Had always heard about 'The Fens' thru friends or thru my bored moments at work (moments being all day long) where I flip between Yelp and Craigslist. If you surf the M4M missed connections page, you'll be sure to find LOTS of sex stories where two or more dudes hooked up on a tree or in some reeds and want to meet up again. Leaving Machine on Friday night with fellow yelpers Katie, Daniel, and Tarah...I mentioned I had never been to The Fens. All of a sudden, we're walking down the street and entering the point of no return. My lovely Yelp friends forced me to walk ahead of them to basically "see what happens." I've mentioned before and I'll mention again I have a TERRIBLE irrational fear of zombies...and I felt surrounded by them as dozens of men lurked around staring me/us down. Walking along the paths, you'll be sure to see guys laying on the ground, standing right outside shrubs, or you can hear twigs snapping from inside the reeds. This was definitely an experience I'll never forget. I think my favorite part was when Daniel took me in for a 2nd tour of the park and forced me to walk on some path thru the reeds and toward the water. Suddenly he gets hit in the face by a hanging vine and almost falls, I freak out and notice I'm sinking into the mud (whilst wearing my lovely J Crew flip flops), and lastly look to my right and see two dudes lurking in the reeds right next to us. WE RAN. And not a moment too soon since as soon as we got back on the road, a police cruiser came flying in (THRU the park) with its spotlight and megaphone ordering people to zip up and go home! Come here during the day if you like parks. Come here at night if you like rando same sex male hook ups...or if you're curious to experience the national geographic special that this place is. Oh, and there are vegetable gardens that people rent plots to grow their own stuff...well...FYI...the men seem to enjoy using your pumpkin patches too so be sure to wash your vegetables. And my feet are still dirty even after 4 showers.

    Sean L.

    Not the cleanest... nor most visually appealing park in Boston. But one thing it boasts that the Common can not is its lack of crowds. With virtually zero tourists in your way... rules or logic be damned as it is right next to Fenway park and Landsdown Street. The Fens also has a gardening section maintained by various people who rent small plots for themselves. These touches of individual personality give our park the uniqueness that is Boston. The Fens is great for a stroll, taking in the War memorial, having a small picnic, or playing a game of frisbee. You're likely to see dozens of neighbors enjoying their options weekly, if not daily. The down side... what is the catch? It is minor but enough to warrant the loss of a star: WATCH OUT FOR GOOSE POO!

    Path around the Fens
    Sydney T.

    The Fens is one of my favorite places in the whole city. It's close to my school and close to my apartment, so it's great for getting away between classes, or after school for a run. This place is stunning in the fall - there are leaves of every color. I love running here because I get so distracted by the beauty that I forget I'm even doing a dreadful, tiring movement with my body. There's a couple of paths, some bridges to walk over, a memorial in the center, and a football/soccer field with a track around it. It's a scenic way to move between neighborhoods and a great place to just stroll! The only reason I deducted a star is the nighttime safety. I'm not sure if it's 100% accurate or not, but at Northeastern orientation, we were warned 40 times over not to go into the Fens at night. I guess it can be pretty dangerous.

    Victory Gardens in The Fens Boston

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    2 years ago

    I really large park in the middle of the city. I had a nice afternoon walk here. Would come again

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    Pretty walk from NEU to Fenway Park. Lovely setting...

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    14 years ago

    this is an ok park but i wouldnt go out of my way to go here. nice but not as nice as i thought it would be

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    14 years ago

    One of the few parks that's likely more enjoyable from a distance as a distraction from nearby traffic than it is amidst the space itself.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Back Bay Fens

    Review Highlights - The Back Bay Fens

    . - Wind sprint around the track til I puked(it was lactic acid threshold training) - Entertaining my mom by taking her to the rose garden and Victory Garden

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    Boston Common

    Boston Common

    4.4
    (559 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I love well planned green spaces in the central areas of big cities, some of the most famous of…read morewhich are Central Park in NYC and of course, Boston Commons. Tonight after our dinner we enjoyed walking through here and Boston Public Gardens for a good 1.5 hrs catching up with our daughter. There was a growing crowd of happy people (families and children too) cheering the Iraq World Cup team who will play their first match tomorrow against Norway here in Boston. About a dozen Boston police were watching from the sidelines on their motorbikes and I prayed all would stay peaceful. Meanwhile, pedestrians, dog walkers, families were enjoying the fresh cool evening amidst the grandiose trees, lawns, ducks, fountains, and historic statues. If you're in the area, definitely stop by, and also check out the Boston Public Gardens, which are even more landscaped and welcoming!

    Boston Common, which opened in 1634, is the oldest city park in the United States. It is 50 acres,…read moreand is bounded by Beacon Street, Park Street, Tremont Street, Boylston Street, and Charles Street. The nearest subway stations are Park Street Station and Boylston Station. To the west is Boston Public Garden, and to the North, on Beacon Street, is the Massachusetts State House and the start of the Freedom Trail. We walked through Boston Common a couple of times on our trip and saw The Embrace sculpture; Central Burying Ground; Parkman Plaza with the three bronze statues representing Learning, Industry, and Religion; and many, many grey squirrels. Boston Common is one of the top tourist attractions in Boston, and it's clear why! [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025; Parks and Gardens]

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    At Boston Commons
    At Boston Commons
    We need Love
    We need Love
    2026.07.21 - The Embrace

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    2026.07.21 - The Embrace
    Boston Public Garden

    Boston Public Garden

    4.8
    (477 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    One of the best city gardens I've ever been! If you're a tourist in Boston, this is a must-go…read more It's free; it's near a lot of other great sites (eg Boston Common, which is right next to it) and it's free. Full of photo opportunities! Great for kids and family too. Very easy to walk around and enjoy! For children's books lovers, this is THE place to visit as it is the home of the duck family in " Make Way for Ducklings" - a classic 1941 children's picture book by Robert McCloskey about the Mallard Duck family's search for a home in Boston's Public Garden. The beautiful charcoal illustrations won the Caldecott Medal. In the garden there is a statue of Mrs. Mallard as she raises her eight ducklings (Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack)!

    Yelp Review 2026 #215:…read more Across the street from Four Seasons Hotel is Boston Public Garden which also happens to be right next to Boston Common. Here you'll find picnics areas, walk/ play with your dogs, a quiet place to read a book or just relax or see little sculptures, monuments/ statues, and Good Will Hunting bench. On the opposite end of the garden is Cheers - the bar made famous by an old show. They have ducks swimming in the lake where you can also be on a paddle boat shaped like a duck. At night, there's some lighting but the trees kind of mask the light. But it's nice to watch the reflection of the buildings on the water. I went here in the summer. There's a lot of bugs! Some clung on to my clothes and I brought them to my hotel. Ugh!

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    Boston Public Garden
    George Washington statue - my first time seeing tulips IRL!! Stunning! (April 2025)
    George Washington statue - my first time seeing tulips IRL!! Stunning! (April 2025)
    Boston Public Garden

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    The Lawn On D

    The Lawn On D

    4.0
    (173 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    First time here and all I can say is WOW!! Beautiful space! They've done a really amazing job with…read morethe renovations to this space! From the green 'grass' to the swings to the greenery and the lighting and the huge stage with an awesome sound system - really great! We went here for live band karaoke with our favorite band called Five Minutes of Fame - they're playing every Thursday night from 7-10 pm. So if you're into singing with a live band go on over and live out your rockstar dreams! They had the food truck called The Grove which I think has a very limiting menu - in terms of healthy and tasty - which is my requirement. I got the grove salad with chicken and it was just ok - nothing to write home about. The hubs had the BLT sandwich which he liked but also found it quite greasy. There are restrooms which are these portable ones in these trailers and they're very nice and clean but the individual ones on the opposite end of the stage was very smelly. The ones behind the stage were better. Running water, flush everything- like a proper restroom. So that is good. We got parking through SpotHero at a nearby parking lot - it was $26 but we didn't want to take chance looking around for parking that is why. But our friends said they found street parking so it's possible to find free parking too. Overall we had a great time, the weather was perfect beautiful summer evening - and great music! We'll be back for more live band karaoke!

    Went to Lawn on D for the World Cup watch party, it was an unspectacular experience. It was very…read morecrowded which made watching the game great, there was a security checkpoint at the front. We attempted to book a table/cabana when we arrived through open table, it was a $50 deposit and $250 minimum for drinks, so great if you have a group that needs a communal place to sit. There are a few bars all serve different items, so depending on what you typically order you'll be going to different areas, which isn't that big of a problem because walking through lawn on D is absolutely beautiful. I would have liked a bigger beer for the price, but when going out you expect to pay more, I additionally saw other customers with Sun cruiser bucket mixed drinks. The seating here is minimal if you're coming on a crowded night, there's plenty if you arrive early or go at a calmer time, but during the World Cup seating was sparse. Food options are similar to a food truck/fast food vibe. If you are not kid friendly this is not the place for you.

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    Hanging out on the swings
    Hanging out on the swings
    The Lawn On D
    The Lawn On D

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    Arnold Arboretum

    Arnold Arboretum

    4.8
    (418 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    My daughter recommended us to visit this fantastic arboretum. It was super worthwhile! Just to get…read moreout of the city first a bit into a well-preserved and landscaped beautiful lush green space with evergreens and oaks and gardens. It's free every day! There's a visitor center, where they have clippings of flowers that are labeled for easy identification and appreciation. Also throughout the arboretum are little plaques identifying flora. We went up to see the view of Boston from Peter's Hill and walked alongside the blooming mountain laurel bushes. Walkable paths are asphalt or wood chips. We saw a wild turkey, several robins, and occasional people. Super glad we explored this wondrous place!

    It's been quite some time since i stopped by the arboretum. As a kid my grandma and mother used to…read moretake us there and take photos in the summer. I have some very good child memories here. They used to have hedge? Carvings of animals and stuff which was super cool. Didn't see that today but not sure, we didn't have time to check the whole arboretum. I think this place is so cool, there's families walking, roller blading, skating, biking etc dog walking you name it. It's clean in there so please keep it that way if visiting. There are ample signs of the types of trees, plants, and different zones. Porta potty available on the paths, resting chairs, benches and even spreads for a picnic. Friend had his wedding there not long ago. Easy commute from Forrest Hills train station on the orange line and walk up the street. Multiple gates to go in from, but main gate closed to cars at 4pm i think. The arboretum is closed at dusk. Beautiful walk on a beautiful day.

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    Fall time
    Fall time
    Arnold Arboretum
    Arnold Arboretum

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    The Back Bay Fens - parks - Updated August 2026

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